Urgent action needed to tackle disruption in temples of democracy, says VP Dhankhar
1 min read . Updated: 22 May 2023, 03:38 PM IST
PremiumVice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged legislators and presiding officers to address the disruption and disturbance in democratic temples during a speech at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly building. Dhankhar emphasized the importance of upholding ethical conduct in constitutional positions and called for an end to the trend of intolerance towards the other point of view. He also praised Kerala for its high internet penetration and progressive legislative initiatives.
NEW DELHI: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar stressed on Monday that disruption and disturbance in the temples of democracy cannot be weaponised as a political strategy. He appealed to legislators and presiding officers to urgently address this malaise during his speech at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly building in Thiruvananthapuram.
“Authorities in constitutional positions must exemplify their conduct by high standards of propriety, dignity, and decorum," said Dhankhar, emphasizing the importance of upholding ethical conduct in such positions.
The vice-president drew attention to the exemplary functioning of the constituent assembly, which tackled complex issues without disruptions, and emphasized that effective and productive legislature functioning is crucial for preserving democratic values and ensuring accountability of the executive. He also called for an end to the “worrisome trend of intolerance towards the other point of view."
“In a democracy, not all issues can be evaluated via partisan prism," Dhankhar urged individuals to transcend partisan divisions and prioritise national interests. He expressed concern over the disappearance of wit, humor, and sarcasm from parliamentary and legislative exchanges, calling on legislators to revive these elements in public discourse.
While acknowledging the privilege of freedom of speech within the precincts of the House, Dhankhar cautioned against misusing this freedom for disruptive purposes. He emphasised that parliamentary and legislative platforms are not intended as arenas for the dissemination of unverified information. “Parliament and legislatures are not platforms of free fall of unverified information," he highlighted.
The vice-president underscored the inviolable nature of parliamentary sovereignty in any democracy, stating that the essence of democracy lies in the ordainment of the people reflected through the legitimized platform of Parliament and the legislatures.
Congratulating the people of Kerala and their elected representatives on the silver jubilee milestone, Dhankhar emphasised that legislative buildings like the Kerala Legislative Assembly represent the will of the people, the spirit of democracy, and the essence of the Constitution.
Highlighting Kerala’s progressive legislative initiatives, the vice-president praised the state for enacting many forward-thinking legislations. He urged current legislators to build upon this shining legacy and make it even more illustrious.
Dhankhar commended Kerala for its high internet penetration and utilisation of emerging technologies, expressing hope that the state’s quality human resources and progressive work culture would lead to new pathways in governance. He also recognized the significant contributions of the Keralite diaspora to the state’s Gross Domestic Product through remittances.
During his address, he paid tribute to distinguished personalities from Kerala and acknowledged their remarkable contributions.